Game 2 of the NLDS was a game the Atlanta Braves simply had to win. Falling behind 2-0 to a team as good as the Dodgers would be an all-but-insurmountable deficit to overcome. Many were quick to criticize manager Walt Weiss for his decision to not start Chris Sale in the game because it was such a blow to Atlanta's chances. Thankfully, the bullpen stepped up massively, and they may have broken Dodgers fans' spirits in the process.
This was a tight game throughout. Blake Snell didn't have his best stuff, but he limited the Braves' offense, and both Ray Kerr and Didier Fuentes each put together playoff performances for the ages. However, while Braves fans were on the edge of their seats on Sunday night, the Dodgers fans that were on hand for the game itself were flocking for the exits well before the game was decided.
Dodgers fans heading for the gates after eighth inning. pic.twitter.com/MSbrA4S9Uw
— Ken Sugiura (@ksugiuraajc) October 5, 2026
Dodgers fans should be embarrassed by early exit during loss to the Braves, but expect that double standard to continue
We have all been in a situation where a game may not be decided, but you need to leave or change the channel for one reason or another. Things happen, and a few folks leaving early to beat traffic is inevitable and not the issue here.
The issue is that Dodgers fans were POURING out of the stadium when this was a two-run game in the middle of the playoffs. The game was only decided by a single run in the end. Are Dodgers fans such fair-weather fans that they won’t watch unless LA is winning by five every night? This isn't just an optics problem, either. The Dodgers were trying to rally late in the game, and the home-field crowd they were hoping to get support from was hemorrhaging out of the gates right in front of their eyes.
Can you imagine if this happened with the Braves? Just last week, Atlanta got criticized because of the crowd sizes during the Braves' day playoff games in the middle of the work week, even though that blame can be placed solely on MLB's ridiculous playoff scheduling. Hell, even local Atlanta columnists have put out misleading information on Braves crowd sizes in the past in order to get clicks. It is fine to ignore reality and make fun of Braves crowds, but we conveniently ignore it when Dodgers fans give up during a close playoff game? Make it make sense.
Thankfully, the NLDS now returns to Atlanta for Games 3 and 4, and both contests are night games. You can bet that Braves fans will be out in force, although we shouldn't expect anyone to notice.
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